EU’s Catherine Ashton urges “all sides” to re-establish calm. PA’s Abbas blames Israel.
By Gil Ronen – www.israelnationalnews.comU.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (pictured) on Saturday condemned the rocket fire from Gaza onto Israel while meeting with opposition leader Tzipi Livni in New York. Clinton said Israel has the right to defend itself. Livni thanked Clinton, saying “the international community must speaking out clearly, in one voice, against terror against the citizens of Israel’s South.”

Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, maintained neutrality in her statement Saturday: “The EU is following with concern the recent escalation of violence in Gaza and in the south of Israel. I very much deplore the loss of civilian life. It is essential to avoid further escalation and I urge all sides to re-establish calm.”

The spokesman for UN Special Envoy for the Peace Process Robert Serry expressed concern Saturday about the situation between Gaza and Israel. “We’re very concerned about this latest escalation,” Richard Miron told Bethlehem-based Ma’an News. “We call on both sides to exercise maximum restraint, and we deplore the fact that civilians are paying the price for this violence.”
He added: “This proves that the situation in Gaza is very fragile and very unsustainable.”

Mahmoud Abbas, chairman of the Palestinian Authority (PA), also asked both sides to show restraint but blamed Israel for the escalation. He called on the terrorists in Gaza to avoid any further escalation that he said could jeopardize efforts to renew peace talks.

The Iron Dome system intercepted two long range rockets that were fired at Ashkelon. Magen David Adom in Ashkelon treated two people: one suffered from emotional shock and the second was slightly hurt when fleeing for cover when a siren sounded.

About the author

Ron Ross worked as the first Sports Editor at WINTV. In Wollongong. He ran The Hamburger Hut an outreach and discipleship program for youth.
He served with Youth With a Mission in Hawaii, Philippines and Australia. He was senior pastor of the Noosa Baptist Church, Queensland for 9 years. He reported news from Jerusalem for five years and is now the Middle East correspondent for United Christian Broadcasters and travels regularly preaching and teaching.

“Our mission is to take the uncompromising Word of God to all Australians (and the world). To see the sick healed, the oppressed set free and family relationships restored – as well as bringing people to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.”